Stroke correcting device and stroke correcting method

ABSTRACT

A stroke correcting device which includes an arm device having arm pads attached thereto and a golf club fixing device for fixing a putter or an iron golf club Thereto, wherein the arm device has the function of adjusting the distance between right and left arms, the function of adjusting a positional relation between right and left arms, the function of adjusting an angle in the arm device, the function of adjusting the angle formed by the arm device and the golf club fixing device and the function of adjusting the angle formed by the arm device and the golf club.

This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/02/00104 which has an Internationalfiling date of Jan. 10, 2002, which designated the United States ofAmerica.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an approach/putting golf strokecorrecting device and an approach/putting golf stroke correcting methodwith the function of improving approach shots and the putting stroke.

BACKGROUND ART

Under conventional putting practice methods, it could occur thatrespective forces of the right and left arms are not well balanced, thearms and wrists are improperly loosened at impact, the hitting face of aputter is incorrectly angled, or the putting stroke deviates from itsintended direction, resulting in the fact that the putting stroke is noteasily improved. In addition, an intense eagerness to try to put theball into the cup causes the body to move abnormally.

Effective training devices or methods for correcting the above describeddefects, however, have been few. For example, Japanese PatentLaying-Open No. 11-57078 discloses a structure of a putter with an aimto improve the golf score and Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 10-2985discloses a training device for improving putting. There remains theproblems, however, that the former does not solve the problem ofimproper looseness of the arms and wrists and the latter providestraining which is done on a certain flat place, provides a trainingmethod through which a player in training has to move in conformity withthe movement of the device, does not allow the player to take anypositioning that the player likes, and exhibits poor portability.

Putting plays a considerable role in improving the golf score.Therefore, as players advance in skill, the putting becomes moreimportant. The skill, however, cannot successively be conveyed orallysince, positioning differs from player to player. Moreover, even if aplayer believes that he has learned the skill of the putting strokeafter having practiced golf on a flat mat, for example the player stillhas difficulty in repeating an accurate putting stroke due to theundulations of an actual green.

It is an object of the present invention to allow putting to bepracticed while overcoming various problems as described above.Specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide anapproach/putting stroke correcting device and an approach/putting strokecorrecting method wherein practice an be done not only on an open spaceand a golf practice range but also on an actual green or some areaaround the green of a golf course.

Another object of the present invention is to provide anapproach/putting stroke correcting device and an approach/putting strokecorrecting method that can be appropriately adapted to a practice menuand can be precisely adjusted by minimum adjustment since the portion tobe adjusted can be accurately recognized.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide anapproach/putting stroke correcting device an approach/putting strokecorrecting method that can readily be utilized by players of all aged aswell as amateur and professional golfers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide anapproach/putting stroke correcting device and an approach/putting strokecorrecting method that can be carried to the practice field wherestrokes can be practiced properly at any place the practice field so asto allow a player to acquire a sense of correct a stroke throughrepeated practice.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The inventor of the present invention has developed a stroke correctingdevice and a stroke correcting method whereby a player in training (whopractices strokes) is not required to adapt to a machine or device butpractices strokes appropriately for the player by adjusting the deviceaccording to the physique, posture and the like of the player, so thatthe player can develop a sensitivity by him/herself, acquire sense ofcorrect a stroke and thus learn a correct putting stroke or approachstroke.

The stroke correcting device according to the present invention is adevice whereby an approach or putting stroke can accurately and stablybe made, namely, a device used for improving an approach shot or aputting stroke.

The stroke correcting device a of the present invention is held softlywhile in use and at an appropriate time is held in the chest and arms ofa player in such a manner that the device is brought into close contactwith the player, or the device can be readily removed . Moreover, thecorrecting device can be appropriately adjusted according to thephysique of the player or a practice menu.

A specific structure of the present invention with the purpose ofachieving the above objects is hereinafter described.

According to the present invention, an approach or putting strokecorrecting device includes an arm device having a plurality of arm pads(arm covers) attached thereto for supporting the arms of a player andincludes a golf club fixing device. The arm device and the golf clubfixing device are fixed. Further, the golf club fixing device is usedfor fixing a putter golf club or an iron golf club to the arm device.

The approach/putting stroke correcting device may be substantially apentagon in shape when the arm device is in position. The arm device mayinclude an elbow-to-elbow distance adjusting component attached theretothat has a reinforcing function and is capable of fine-adjusting thedistance between right and left elbows of the player.

Preferably, the stroke correcting device of the present invention canadjust the distance between the right and left arms of the player,adjust the respective lengths of components according to the positionalrelationship between the right and left arms of the player, adjust theangle in the arm device, adjust the angle formed by the arm device andthe golf club fixing device and adjust the angle formed by the armdevice and a utter or iron golf club.

The arm device includes a frame which extends along and is in contactwith the upper arms of the player (hereinafter abbreviated as “upper-armframe” upper-arm edge) and a frame which extends along and is in contactwith forearms (hereinafter abbreviated as “forearm frame”: forearmedge). In this case, the arm device includes forward-tilt angleadjusting screw and a slide wide hole for adjusting the. forward-tiltangle (β) of a coupling portion between the upper-arm frame and theforearm frame and adjusting respective lengths of components along thearms of the player according to respective lengths of the right and leftarms.

In other words, the stroke correcting device may include the forwardtilt angle adjusting screw and the slide guide hole that can adjust theforward-tilt angle and lengths of components corresponding to the rightand left arms.

The arm pads may include an arm portion having a hollow or concaveportion extending from the upper arm to the forearm of the player andreceiving the upper arm and the forearm, and the arm portion may includean upper-arm portion which extends along the upper arm of the player, aforearm portion along the forearm of the player and a bent portionbetween the upper-arm portion and the forearm portion. In this case, thebent portion can be variably adjusted.

In other words, the stroke correcting device may include a component,instead of the upper-arm frame and the forearm frame of the arm devicehaving arm pads attached thereto, that is shaped for example into alongitudinally halved human arm and has the bending portion which can bevariably adjusted and includes the golf club fixing device.

The upper arms of the player are brought into close contact with theupper-arm arm pads and the forearms of the player are brought into closecontact with the forearm arm pads and the stroke correcting device isadjusted in such a manner that the stroke correcting device isintegrated with a putter or iron club to allow the player to take adesired position. In this state, the player makes an approach shot orputting stroke. More specifically, the player executes an approach orputting stroke white forming a pentagon between the right and left armsand the chest and maintaining the pentagon thus formed. In this way, theapproach or putting stroke can be corrected.

Using the stroke correcting device of the present invention, the upperarms are brought into close contact with the upper-arm arm pads and theforearms are brought into close contact with the forearm arm pads, thedistance between the right and left arms is adjusted, respective lengthsof components are adjusted according to a positional relation betweenthe right and left, the respective angles of components in the armdevice are adjusted, the angle formed by the arm device and the golfclub fixing device is adjusted, and the angle formed by the arm device aputter is adjusted. Then, the player executes an approach or puttingstroke in the state that the stroke correcting device is integrated withthe putter or iron club so that the player can assume a desiredpositioning. The approach or putting stroke can thus be corrected.

The arm device of the present invention is typically formed of fiveframes, i.e. a frame which is in contact with the chest (hereinafterchest frame), a set of upper-arm frames and a set of forearm frames.These frames are successively coupled to each other. The arm device ofthe present invention may be the one having a shape of longitudinallyhalved human arms instead of the upper-arm frames and the forearm framesand having a bending portion which can be variably adjusted. Lower endsof the forearm frames are coupled to a short metal fitting for example.To the metal fitting, the golf club fixing device is attached. A putteror iron club can be fixed at both longitudinal ends of the golf clubfixing device. Accordingly, the arm device, the golf club fixing deviceand the putter or iron club are integrated into one unit.

The frames of the arm device are each made of bamboo, wood, such a metalas aluminum, titanium or stainless, or plastic, and have across sectionin the shape of a triangle, tetragon, pentagon, hexagon, octagon,circle, or ellipse, or angular U-shaped, L-shaped or hemispherical. forexample.

The arm device may be structured as one component or foamed of twosymmetrical components. Each frame may be straight or curve. The chestframe may be an arc of a circle, arc of an ellipse or straight in shape.Preferably, the chest frame in use is disposed at a predetermineddistance from the chest of the player and is straight in shape.

The strength of the arm device could be deteriorated due to a materialof the frame or due to a reduced weight of the material. Then, forreinforcement of the arm device or for adjustment of distance thebetween right and left elbows, an elbow-to-elbow distance adjustingcomponent may further be attached.

The length of the upper-arm frames can be adjusted according to thelength of the upper arms. Similarly, the length of the forearm framescan be adjusted according to the length of the forearms. In particular,the length of the upper-arm frames can be fine-adjusted since thepositions of the right arm and the left arm are different in terms ofthe vertical direction depending on the state of gripping. However, itis not particularly required that the length of the forearm frames canlie adjusted. The lengths are adjusted by screw-fastening, tripodsliding, screwing or the like.

For a coupling portion between the upper-arm frames and the forearmframes, an angle between the upper-arm frames and the forearm frames canbe adjusted to a desired angle. This angle. is referred to as the“forward-tilt angle.”

Arm pads are attached respectively to the upper-arm frames arid theforearm frames. Through these arm pads, the upper arms and the forearmsare brought into close contact with the frames. The arm pads of theforearm frames can be moved up and down to make an adjustment in such away that the forearms are in close contact with the arm pads. In thisway, the right and left arms and the arm pads can be fixed in a wellbalanced state without displacement therebetween. The arm pads are forexample semicylindrical in shape. Although the arms may be fixed to theframes by the arm pads, it is not necessarily required that the arms arefixed to the frames. Rather, it is preferred that the arms can freely beattached/detached to/from the arm device.

The length of each frame and the forward-tilt angle are adjusted so thatan ideal pentagon for putting can be formed between the right and leftarms and the chest.

The golf club fixing device of the present invention includes, forexample, a fitting for the upper part of the grip of a putter or irongolf club, a fixing screw for the upper part of the grip of the putteror iron golf club, a fixing arm for the putter or iron golf club, afixing arm screw for the putter or iron golf club and a metal couplingfitting for the forearm frames and the golf club fixing device. Themetal coupling fitting has a screw attached thereto for adjusting theangle between the forearm frames and the putter. This angle is referredto as “putting (stroke) forward-tilt angle.” This angle is adjustedaccording to the size of the palm, the thickness and length of thefingers, the state of gripping, or the forward-tilt of the posture ofthe player when the sole of the putter is positioned on the ground.Adjustment of the angle as mentioned above is made by a wing screw,screw driver, screw using a coin. Preferably, screws adjustable by markcoins are used.

The length of the fixing arm for the putter or iron golf dub is notgreater than that of the grip of the putter or iron golf club. Thefixing arm 15 is curbed in shape so as not to obstruct gripping by theplayer.

It is thus seen from the above that the approach or putting strokecorrecting device of the present invention can be used regardless ofwhether the player is right-handed or left-handed.

According to a stroke correcting method of the present invention, astroke is executed in a state in which arms of a player in training aresupported on arm pads and a golf club and the arm pads are integratedinto one unit so as to allow the player to take a positioning which theplayer desires to take.

A method of correcting an approach or putting stroke using the 25 strokecorrecting device of the present invention is hereinafter described.

The arm device, the golf club fixing device and a putter or, iron clubare assembled roughly to form a certain shape in advance. In thefollowing, correction of the putting stroke is described.

First, a golf ball i placed on a flat mat or green and, a posture, apositioning and an address are determined according to a practice menuwhich the player desires to follow or according to suggestions of aninstructor. The assembled correcting device is held in the right handand the chest frame is pressed lightly against the chest while the armpads attached to the left upper-arm frame and left forearm frame arebrought into close contact with the left arm. The hitting face of theputter is directed perpendicularly to a putt line. A positioning istaken to tilt the body forward so that the left eye can see the golfball below the eye. In this state, the arm device is fixed to the rightarm and the distance between the right and left arms (chest width), thedistance between the right and left elbows, the length of each frame,the forward-tilt angle and the putting forward-tilt angle are adjusted.Consequently, the posture, positioning and address of the player canuniformly be determined. Then, the player executes a stroke along theputt line.

The direction of the ball and the distance the ball flies cap be knownthrough take-back and follow-through. The player thus repeats practiceincluding the above steps to physically acquire a sense of the puttingstroke. Then, the player makes a desired putting stroke without thestroke correcting device to confirm that the player can execute thecorrect putting stroke which the player has learned.

Through a procedure similar to the above-described one, the playerrepeatedly practices putting by means of the stroke correcting device onan actual green with undulations. Executing a correct putting stroke,the player can set a virtual putt line or read a putt line

When such a putt like an approach putt from a somewhat long is distanceis executed, a large take-back has to be made. Then, it could occur thatthe body shifts considerably from a proper posture which is accompaniedby an abnormal sense to correct the shift. Then, the stroke correctingdevice of the present invention can be used to physically acquire asense of a correct putting stroke. In this way, the player executingpractice repeatedly by means of the stroke correcting device of thepresent invention can induce the players own sensitivity andconsequently make a correct putting stroke

Moreover, the stroke for an approach shot by an iron club can be alsocorrected. The present invention is effective as a method for correctingstrokes of a pitch shot, a pitch-and-run, a running approach shot arounda green for example within 50 yards, preferably within 30 yards from ahole.

Specifically, players positions a golf ball and determines the posture,the positioning and the address based on a practice menu which theplayer desires to follow or suggestions of an instructor. The playerdirects the face of an, iron perpendicularly to a shot line. In thisstate, the player adjust a the distance between the right and left arms,the distance between the right and left elbows, the length of eachframe, the forward-tilt angle and the stroke forward-tilt angle of thecorrecting device. Accordingly, a posture, a positioning and an addressof the player can uniformly be determined. The player then executes astroke along the shot line. Through take-back and follow-through, theplayer knows the direction of the ball, the carry and the runningdistance. The player practices strokes repeatedly including the abovesteps to physically acquire a sense of a stroke of an approach shot.Next, the player executes a desired stroke of an approach shot withoutusing the stroke correcting device so as to confirm that the player canmake the learned correct stroke of the approach shot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitativeof the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a stroke correcting device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the stroke correcting device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the right side of an arm device according tothe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the left side of the arm device according tothe present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an elbow-to-elbow distanceadjusting component according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a forward-tilt angle,adjusting screw and a slide guide hole of an arm according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a golf club fixing device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the golf club fixing deviceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the golf club fixing device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the golf club fixing device to which a putteris fixed according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the golf club fixing device with a putterfixed thereto that is gripped according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a stroke correcting device having an armportion in the shape of longitudinally halved human arms.

FIG. 13 shows that putting is practiced by means of the strokecorrecting device of the present invention as seen from the front.

FIG. 14 shows that putting is practiced by means of the strokecorrecting device of the present invention as seen from the side, and

FIG. 15 is a front view of another stroke correcting device according tothe present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

For understanding of an approach or putting stroke correcting deviceaccording to the present invention, embodiments are specificallydescribed in connection with the drawings, while the present inventionis not limited to these embodiments.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an approach or putting stroke correcting device ofthe present invention that has one elbow-to-elbow distance adjustingcomponent. The stroke correcting device has an arm device (I, FIGS. 1, 3and 4) to which arm pads (31R, 31L, FIG. 1) are attached and has a golfclub fixing device (2, FIGS. 1, 7, 8 and 9).

Arm device (1) may be structured as one component or formed of twosymmetrical components. Each frame (edge) may be straight or curved. Achest frame may be an arc of a circle, an arc of an ellipse or straightin shape for example. Preferably, the chest frame is straight.

Arm device (1) is formed of five frames that are a chest frame (11R,11L, 21), upper-arm frames (12R, 12L) and forearm frames (13R, 13L).Ends of these frames are coupled successively to each other.

Lower ends of respective forearm frames are coupled to a short metalfitting (14). For reinforcement of each frame that is required due to amaterial of the frame or due to a reduced weight of the material, or foradjustment of a distance between elbows, an elbow-to-elbow distanceadjusting component (15R, 15L, 22, FIG. 5) is further attached. Couplingportions (16R, 16L) between the chest frame and upper-arm frames may beformed integrally, however, it is preferable to couple the frames toeach other by screws. The elbow-to-elbow adjusting component is attachedto 10 coupling portions (17R, 17L, FIG. 6) between upper-arm frames endforearm frames, and the coupling portions include adjusting portions(20R, 20L) for adjusting the length of the upper-arm frames andadjusting straws (18R, 18L, FIG. 6) for adjusting a forward-tilt angle.

The frames of arm device (1) are each made of bamboo, wood, such a 15metal as aluminum, titanium or stainless, or plastic, and have a crosssection in the shape of a triangle, tetragon, pentagon, hexagon, octagonor circle, or angular U-shaped or L-shaped. The chest frame ispreferably formed of aluminum pipes (11R, 11L) having threaded ends andan adjusting screw (21).

Upper-arm frames (12R, 12L) are preferably formed each of a wooden oraluminum plate having a width of 105-125 mm, a thickness of 105-125 mmand a length of 105-125 mm, and have, in their upper parts, respectiveholes for attachment of aluminum pipes (11R, 11L) aid slide guide holes(20) for attachment of forearm frames (13R, 13L) (see FIG. 2).

Preferably, the forearm frames are each formed of an aluminum pipe withits ends flattened and holes are made in the flattened ends. The upperportions of forearm frames (13R, 13L) are bent at an angle of 105125°.

An aluminum pipe is used for metal fitting (14) which had its ends 30where slots are made, and the flattened ends of forearm frames (13R,13L) can be inserted into the slots. The forearm frames and the mealfitting are coupled by screws (19R, 19L).

Elbow-to-elbow distance adjusting component (15R, 15L, 22, FIG. 5)includes aluminum pipes (15R, 15L) having threaded parts as well as anadjusting screw (22) similar to those of the chest frame. Arm pads (armcovers: 31R, 31L, 32R, 32L) are attached respectively to the upper-armframes and the forearm frames.

An arm device (1) as shown in FIG. 12 may be used, instead of the onehaving the upper-arm frames and the forearm frames, that is in the shapeof longitudinally halved human arms and has bent portions that arevariably adjustable.

Upper arms and forearms are brought into close contact with respectiveframes via above-mentioned arm pads (31R, 31L, 32R, 32L). Arm pads (32R,32L) of for arm frames (13R, 13L) are slidable up and down along forearmframes (13R, 13L) and adjusting screws (33R, 33L) are used to bring theforearms into close contact with the arm pads. In this way, the arms andarm pads are fixed in a well-balanced state without 15 displacement withrespect to each other. Ann pads (31R, 31L, 32R, 32L) are semicylindricalin shape.

Although the arms may be fixed to arm device (1) by means of the armpads as described above, it is not necessarily required that the armsare fixed to arm device (1). Depending on the player, it would be betterthat the arms can freely be moved.

The length “1” of the chest frame is adjusted by adjusting screw (21) sothat the length conforms to the chest width of a player. The length “m”of upper-arm frames is adjusted by adjusting screws (18R, 18L) so thatthe length conforms to the length of the upper arms. After adjustment ofthe lengths “1” and “m,” the forearm frames and metal fitting (14) arefixed by screws (19R, 19L). It is supposed here that the angle formedbetween the left and right forearm frames is a (see FIG. 1).

A desired forward-tilt angle a formed at the joints between theupper-arm frames and the forearm frames is adjusted by adjusting screws30 (18R, 18L) (see FIG. 2). The length of each of the frames and theforward-tilt angle are thus adjusted to form, between the chest and thearms of the player in training, an ideal pentagon for putting.

Golf club fixing device (2, FIGS. 1, 7, 8 and 9) has a coupling portion(51) with metal fitting (14), a coupling screw (55), a putter fixing arm(52), a putter fixing arm screw (57), a lower putter grip fitting (53),an upper putter grip fitting (54), and an upper putter grip fixing screw(5G). By means of putter fixing arm screw (57) and upper putter gripfixing screw 5 (5G), the grip of a putter is fixed to arm device (1)(see FIG. 7). Coupling screw (55) is used to adjust an angle y formedbetween arm device (1) and the putter, namely a putting forward-tiltangle (see FIG. 2).

Accordingly, arm device (1), golf club fixing device (2) and the putterare integrated into one unit as shown in FIG. 10. The grip of the putteris 10 indicated by dotted lines or dashed lines in FIGS. 7-10. An ironclub can also be fixed to arm device (1) in a manner similar to thatdescribed above. Moreover, the device of the present invention can beused regardless of whether the player is right-handed or left-handed.

Another embodiment of the stroke correcting device shown in FIG. 15 isnow described according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 15,while upper-arm frames (12R, 12L) and forearm frames (13R, 13L)described above may be dispensed with, arm pads (31R, 31L) may beattached to respective ends of frames (11R, 11L) and arm pads (32R. 32L)may be attached to respective ends of frames (15R, 15L). Center frames20 (60, G 1) for connecting each of the frames (11R, 11L, 15R, 15L) togolf club fixing device (2) are provided. In this case, arm device (1),golf club fixing device (2) and a golf club can also be fixed with anexpectation that an effect similar to that of the device in FIG. 1 canalso be achieved here.

A putting stroke correcting method is now described. FIGS. 13 and 14 arerespectively a front view and a side view of the stroke correctingdevice in use according to the present invention.

Arm device (1), golf club fixing device (2) and a putter or iron clubare roughly assembled to form a certain shape in advance. First, a golfball is placed on a flat mat or green and, a posture, a positioning andan 30 address are determined according to a practice menu that theplayer desires to follow or suggestions of an instructor. The assembledcorrecting device is held in the right hand and the chest frame (11R,11L, 21) is pressed lightly against the chest while arm pads (31L, 32L)attached to left upper-arm frame (12L) and left forearm frame (13L) arebrought into close contact with the left arm.

The hitting face of the putter is directed perpendicularly to a puttline. A positioning is taken in such a manner that a forward-tiltposture is 5 assumed to allow the left eye to seethe golf ball below theleft ˜eye. In this state, chest width “1” , elbow-to-elbow distance “n”and length “m” of the upper-arm frame are adjusted by adjusting screw(21), adjusting screw (22) stretchable slide guide hole (20) andadjusting screw (18L).

Then, adjusting screw (18R) is used to adjust upper-arm frame (12R) 10and forearm frame (13R) thereby form an ideal pentagon for putting. Thispentagon is a shape which is necessary for a putting operation and whichis produced naturally when the putter is gripped correctly in bothhands. Following this, forward-tilt angle β and putting forward-tiltangle y are adjusted which is shown in FIG. 2.

Along the pentagonal shape, the upper arms and the forearms are broughtinto close contact with the arm pads of the right and left arms. If theforearms cannot be in dose contact with the arm pads, adjusting screws(33R, 33L) are used for adjustment so as to allow the forearms to be inclose contact with the arm pads. FIG. 11 shows a state in which thebutter is gripped.

Addressing is thereafter performed. Consequently, the posture,positioning and address of the player can uniformly be determined. Withthis state maintained, a stroke is made along the putt line. Thedirection and the distance the ball flies can be known through take-backand follow through. The player then repeats practice including the abovesteps to physically acquire a sense of the putting stroke.

Then, the player performs a desired putting stroke without the strokecorrecting device to confirm that the player can make a correct puttingstroke.

Through a procedure similar to the above-described one, butting can becorrected by means of the stroke correcting device on an actual. Greenwith undulations.

Further, through the similar procedure, a stroke of an approach shot byan iron club can be corrected by means of the stroke correcting deviceformed in the shape of a pentagon.

Strokes of a pitch shot, a pitch-and-run, a running approach shot arounda green for example within 50 yards, preferably within 30 yards 5 from ahole can be corrected.

It is seen from the above that the stroke correcting device of thepresent invention is not the one like the conventional machine to whicha player is fixed to learn a movement of the machine thereby correctingstrokes. The stroke correcting device of the present invention is usedto fix the posture of each player that is desirable and appropriate forthe player and the player practices strokes while keeping this state soas to physically learn this desirable posture and can eventually make adesirable stroke.

The stroke correcting device of the present invention structured asdescribed above accordingly achieves the following effects.

The stroke correcting device of the present invention is used in such amanner that a player softly holds the device in the arms to integratethe device and a puffer or iron into one unit. If the player applies anabnormal force to the device in making a stroke, the player receives areaction force from the device. When the player relaxes the hold, thedevice could shift from the original position or separate from the arms.If any part of the body of the player makes an abnormal motion, thatpart receives a reaction force from the device.

Namely, the stroke correcting device which forms an ideal pentagon forputting can uniformly set a posture, a positioning and an address of aplayer in training. The pentagon is a shape which is necessary in doingan approach shot. If a putter or iron is correctly gripped in hands, thepentagon is consequently formed by the arms and chest.

In this way, the body of the player and the golf club are fired to formthis ideal shape, the player maintains this state to execute a strokeand then adjusts the stroke so as not to receive any abnormal reactionforce from the device while perceiving the sense of the player byhim/herself. Such a practice as described above can be repeated to allowthe player to acquire a correct stroke.

Once the player has acquired the correct stroke, the player is onlyrequired to consider the putt line and the distance while there is noneed to check the posture and positioning each time the player makes astroke. Thus, in executing a putting or approach shot, the player onlychecks such external factors as the grain of the grass, undulation andthe strength of the wind and accordingly can concentrate on the ball.

Further, the player can sense a slight difference in feeling between thecase in which the ball hits on the sweet spot of the face and the casein which the ball hits on another spot, and thus the player can smoothlyaddress the ball.

Moreover, golfers can play golf rhythmically and at good tempo from apractice swing and an address to a stroke and thus increasingly enjoyplaying golf. Naturally, the score is improved.

The stroke correcting device of the present invention can correct thestroke regardless of whether a player is right-handed or left-handed.

In addition, the stroke correcting device of the present invention canbe shaped as desired by simple screwing with hands, so that the devicecan readily be worn by players of all ages as well as amateur andprofessional golfers.

The stroke correcting device of the present invention can be folded forexample to be carried readily, and thus the device can be carried to anypractice space where a player can appropriately practice strokes at anytime and in any place.

Moreover, the practice is repeated while the golf club and the body of aplayer are fixed and accordingly the player can physically acquire asense of correct stroke and induce sensitivity to putting or approachshot in playing golf. In this way, the player can make a correct strokeof a putting or approach shot.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is effectively applicable to golf practice devicesand methods.

1. A stroke correcting device comprising an arm device provided with aplurality of arm pads attached thereto and a golf club fixing device,wherein the stroke correcting device is substantially pentagon in shapewhen the arm device is in an operating position; and wherein in theoperating position, the arm device includes an upper-arm frame which isadapted to extend along the upper-arms of a player and a forearm frameadapted to extend along the forearms of the player.
 2. The strokecorrecting device according to claim 1, wherein the arm device and thegolf club fixing device are integrated into a single unit.
 3. The strokecorrecting device according to claim 1, wherein the golf club fixingdevice fixes a putter golf club or an iron golf club to the arm device.4. The stroke correcting device according to claim 1, wherein the armdevice includes an elbow-to-elbow distance adjusting component havingthe function of reinforcing the arm device and adjusting the distancebetween the right and left elbows of a player.
 5. The stroke correctingdevice according to claim 1, wherein said arm device has the function ofadjusting the distance between the right and left arms of a player intraining the function of adjusting the respective lengths of componentsaccording to the positional relationship between the right and left armsof the player; the function of adjusting respective angles of componentsof the arm device; the function of adjusting the angle formed by the armdevice and the golf club fixing device (2) and the function of adjustingthe angle formed by the arm device and the golf club.
 6. A strokecorrecting method using the stroke correcting device of claim 1, whereinthe method steps comprise executing the stroke in a state in which theforearms and uppers arms of a player are supported by arm pads and agolf club and the arm pads are integrated into a single unit to allowthe player to take a position which the player desires to assume.
 7. Astroke correcting device comprising an arm device provided with aplurality of arm pads attached thereto, and a golf club fixing device,wherein the stroke correcting device has a configuration that issubstantially pentagon in shape when the arm device is in an operatingposition, said arm device including an upper-arm frame which is adaptedto extend along upper arms of a player in training and a forearm frameadapted to extend along forearms of the player of the player, said armdevice further including a forward-tilt angle adjusting screw and aslide guide hole for adjusting a forward-tilt angle (β) of a couplingportion between said upper-arm frame and said forearm frame foradjusting respective lengths of components along the arms of the playeraccording to the respective lengths of the right arm and the left arm ofthe player.
 8. A stroke correcting device comprising an arm deviceprovided with a plurality of arm pads attached thereto, and a golf clubfixing device, wherein the stroke correcting device has a configurationthat is substantially pentagon in shape when the arm device is in anoperating position, said arm pads including an arm portion having ahollowed portion adapted to extend from an upper arm to a forearm of aplayer and adapted to receive said upper arm and the forearm, said armportion having an upper-arm portion adapted to extend along the upperarm of the player, a forearm portion adapted to extend along the forearmof the player, and a bent portion adapted to be disposed between theupper-arm portion and the forearm portion, said bent portion beingvariably adjustable.